Thank you, president. And, because this is my first time sitting with you in this Council, I’d want to congratulate you on your presidency and once again praise and thank Algeria for its leadership last month. Thank you, Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov and Executive Director Natalia Gherman, for working together to prepare the twentieth ISIL report and for briefing us. Countering ISIS and other terrorist organizations throughout the world is a primary goal for the Trump administration. President Trump has already taken significant action in coordination with the Somali government, launching precision airstrikes against ISIS in Somalia on February 1st. President Trump’s message is clear: the United States is always ready to hunt and execute terrorists who pose a threat to the country and its allies.

ISIS has increased the frequency and severity of its strikes in the Sahel, making it the global hotspot for terrorist fatalities. As a result, ISIS-Somalia, ISIS-Sahel, and ISIS-West Africa pose a substantial threat to Africa’s stability and economy. As the Secretary-General’s report points out, ISIS affiliates in Central Asia, particularly ISIS-Khorasan, pose a substantial global danger. We remain concerned about ISIS-K’s ability to plan and carry out operations, as well as maintain recruitment campaigns, particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan. We are also keenly monitoring the situation in Syria. The United States wants stability and security in the region, and we want Syria to live in peace with its neighbors, respect human rights, and prevent terrorists from using its country as asafe haven.

The United States urges Member States to repatriate expeditiously and prosecute as appropriate their foreign terrorist fighter nationals currently in northeast Syrian detention facilities. These individuals must not be allowed to replenish ISIS’s ranks.

The United States urges Member States to repatriate expeditiously and prosecute as appropriate their foreign terrorist fighter nationals currently in northeast Syrian detention facilities. These individuals must not be allowed to replenish ISIS’s ranks.

The United States is determined to keep Syria from being used as a base for ISIS, Iranian-backed terrorism, or other regional threats. The total and verifiable eradication of Syria’s chemical weapons program is critical to regional security and stability, as well as preventing terrorists from using these weapons. Accountability for terrorist attacks and other terrorist action is critical to combating terrorism and preventing similar acts from occurring in the future. In that vein, we urge Council members to take action and agree to include more ISIL and al-Qa’ida affiliates in the 1267 Sanctions Committee, subjecting them to a global asset freeze, travel restriction, and arms embargo. Furthermore, we encourage Members States to play an active and timely role in updating and implementing UN 1267 sanctions to counter ISIS and al-Qa’ida.

Money is the lifeblood of terrorists. We must step up our combined efforts to stop the flow of funding to terrorists and terrorist organizations. Finally, as the Secretary-General properly points out, Member States’ counterterrorism measures must go beyond security-focused methods to encompass comprehensive efforts to prevent and deter new terrorist threats. Member States’ responses to this grave danger to international peace and security must be consistent with the rule of law, protect human rights, and not be used as a pretext to muzzle political opposition.